Havoc broke out at a routine roadblock

Havoc broke out at a routine roadblock on the N12 Potchefstroom highway
when Joburg metro police officers discovered a bag of weapons, including
an AK-47, in the back of a car.

When police moved in, a chase on foot ensued. One man was shot in a
shoulder during the chase. He and another man were arrested at the
scene. Five others were still at large, metro police spokesman Wayne
Minnaar said.

A white Toyota Quantum with dark tinted windows was stopped as part of a
routine traffic check at 1.40pm yesterday.

When police saw that the men inside looked nervous and suspicious, one
officer searched the car while the other officer waited outside and
called for backup.

"When I got to the back seat I saw a bag. I saw the AK-47 inside. The
guys in the car tried to react, but I took the bag and pushed those guys
away," said the officer.

"The whole time I shouted, 'AK-47, AK-47!' And the guys tried to take
the bag from us."

The officer made it out of the taxi with the bag unscathed, and the
seven suspects fled across the highway. They were pursued by eight
officers.

One of the fleeing men turned and pointed a firearm at a police officer.
The officer drew his weapon and fired a shot, hitting the man in the
left shoulder.

The two arrested men are aged about 30 to 35, Minnaar said. Police saw
the other five men flee across the N12 into the Freedom Park area.

Minnaar said police suspected the men were "very serious criminals".

In the bag they found an AK-47, a handgun and a large sledgehammer. They
also recovered a handgun from one of the men.

Minnaar said the sledgehammer indicated it was likely the group intended
to commit a serious crime, possibly involving an armoured vehicle, safe
or ATM.
This article was originally published on page 2 of The
Star on May 05, 2010